County time-off plan raises worker ire

Officials call for 'flex' plan review

A group of Shelby County's elected officials have asked for a review of a proposed vacation and sick leave policy that has outraged county government employees.

Thirteen elected officials signed a letter this week to County Commission chairman David Lillard asking that a proposed "Flex Leave Policy" be reviewed by the Unified Personnel Policy Committee, a formal panel that hears employee complaints.

The elected officials -- including Juvenile Court Judge Curtis Person, Sheriff Mark Luttrell and District Attorney General Bill Gibbons -- also asked that employees be notified of the review, saying "maybe this will bring a calming among employees and temporarily improve morale."

The "Flex Policy," which would go into effect Jan. 1 if the County Commission approves it, has drawn outrage from some of the county's 6,000 employees because it would lump all leave -- sick, vacation, bereavement and bonus -- into one "flex time" category and, in some cases, cut the number of allotted leave days in half for more tenured employees.

Mayor A C Wharton's administration notified employees through company e-mail of the proposed policy change a few weeks ago. In the letter sent this week, the elected officials said they felt the policy was presented to officials and employees in an "unprofessional manner."

Lillard said Friday said the commission will wait to see what the administration wants to do about the policy, whether they'll amend it or ask that it be put on the agenda for commission consideration.

"The ball is in their court to say how they want to proceed," he said.